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Dialup
5
Aug 2, 2018
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I'd be happy to see anything from Z-packs, Superior Wilderness Designs, Palante or Gossimer Gear. I keep debating choices between those companies. A good enough deal would provide a serious incentive to choose.
Msilverhammer
327
Aug 2, 2018
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DialupYou had a few of the companies on my list.
Following is an excerpt from my comment.
Some companies to look at that manufacture lightweight, yet durable backpacks include the following:
ZPacks, ULA, Mountain Laurel Designs, Gossamer Gear, Hyperlite Mountain Gear, Granite Gear, Osprey, Katabatic Gear, Superior Wilderness Designs, Mountainsmith, and Sierra Designs.
Additionally, I hesitate a little to mention this company because they went bankrupt under another company name, but My Trail Co was launched in 2015 by the same founders of GoLite, an ultralight backpacking company that closed its doors in 2014.
The founders utilized the best designs from the most popular GoLite products and rebranded them under My Trail Co.
My Trail Co manufactures the UL 50 backpack which is seemingly a good deal.
Weight: 1 lb 6 oz Capacity: 50 L Price: $119
It's kind of a plain Jane pack but seemingly durable, light, and inexpensive.
I think that it would also be enlightening, and interesting to discuss the various materials that are now being used to construct lightweight backpacks that are waterproof, and extremely durable such as Dyneema (Cuben Fiber), Robic, and various other exotic fabrics ha that are now becoming more mainstream.
Following is an excerpt from my comment.
Some companies to look at that manufacture lightweight, yet durable backpacks include the following:
ZPacks, ULA, Mountain Laurel Designs, Gossamer Gear, Hyperlite Mountain Gear, Granite Gear, Osprey, Katabatic Gear, Superior Wilderness Designs, Mountainsmith, and Sierra Designs.
Additionally, I hesitate a little to mention this company because they went bankrupt under another company name, but My Trail Co was launched in 2015 by the same founders of GoLite, an ultralight backpacking company that closed its doors in 2014.
The founders utilized the best designs from the most popular GoLite products and rebranded them under My Trail Co.
My Trail Co manufactures the UL 50 backpack which is seemingly a good deal.
Weight: 1 lb 6 oz Capacity: 50 L Price: $119
It's kind of a plain Jane pack but seemingly durable, light, and inexpensive.
I think that it would also be enlightening, and interesting to discuss the various materials that are now being used to construct lightweight backpacks that are waterproof, and extremely durable such as Dyneema (Cuben Fiber), Robic, and various other exotic fabrics ha that are now becoming more mainstream.
Dialup
5
Aug 3, 2018
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MsilverhammerMSilverhammer-
Thanks. I have been researching for a while. I attached a graphic in a quasi-analytical spreadsheet. My research has revolved between the Nero, Arc Haul, Gorilla, Mariposa, and the Trail series. Belt pockets are a big deal for me. The Trail UL lacks the pockets and the trail light has them. Zpacks does not have them by default and adding them also adds to the pack weight. When I camp alone, I'll be at about 5-6lbs base. My projection is no more than a week of food (@3000 cal per day) plus 4 liters of water capacity.
I would rather measure multiple times and pay once. Here's what I have come up with so far (or what I think I have found):
Thanks. I have been researching for a while. I attached a graphic in a quasi-analytical spreadsheet. My research has revolved between the Nero, Arc Haul, Gorilla, Mariposa, and the Trail series. Belt pockets are a big deal for me. The Trail UL lacks the pockets and the trail light has them. Zpacks does not have them by default and adding them also adds to the pack weight. When I camp alone, I'll be at about 5-6lbs base. My projection is no more than a week of food (@3000 cal per day) plus 4 liters of water capacity.
I would rather measure multiple times and pay once. Here's what I have come up with so far (or what I think I have found):
Msilverhammer
327
Aug 3, 2018
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DialupWow...I have never seen such a comprehensive breakdown like this before, and it looks like it took quite a bit of time to put it together!
Very cool!
It's a little hard to read, but I tried to magnify, and I put on a pair of readers to help out.
I'll have to spend a little time looking it over more closely, and breaking it down further.
You list a lot of data, so I am not sure what you are basing the final selection on, and of course I think that there are some intangibles such as when you actually put the pack on, and determine the comfort level, adjustment level, and basically how it fits and feels on your back and shoulders.
Perhaps something like the color, and the type of material that the backpack is constructed from is important too?
What is the total weight (food and water included) that you will be carrying?
I guess that once you know how much weight, and the size of the gear that you will be carrying, then you definitely have to decide how much capacity that you need in the pack, as the spreadsheet/chart that you prepared lists backpacks that have a capacity from 38 liters up to 115 liters.
Of course when you determine the backpack capacity, you then have to narrow it down to the pack that meets the pack weight limit that you have set.
As you mentioned, belt pockets are important to you, so I guess that you can eliminate any backpacks that do not have them, or that do not have belt pockets in the size that you desire. E.g. You might want belt pockets that can easily hold a 5" phone.
You may also want side water bottle pockets, front and top opening access points, sleeping bag compartment, hydration bladder sleeve, etc.
So it looks like you have all the data that you will need, so what is your process of elimination, and how will you decide what backpack to purchase?
Thanks for sharing, and let us all know.
Very cool!
It's a little hard to read, but I tried to magnify, and I put on a pair of readers to help out.
I'll have to spend a little time looking it over more closely, and breaking it down further.
You list a lot of data, so I am not sure what you are basing the final selection on, and of course I think that there are some intangibles such as when you actually put the pack on, and determine the comfort level, adjustment level, and basically how it fits and feels on your back and shoulders.
Perhaps something like the color, and the type of material that the backpack is constructed from is important too?
What is the total weight (food and water included) that you will be carrying?
I guess that once you know how much weight, and the size of the gear that you will be carrying, then you definitely have to decide how much capacity that you need in the pack, as the spreadsheet/chart that you prepared lists backpacks that have a capacity from 38 liters up to 115 liters.
Of course when you determine the backpack capacity, you then have to narrow it down to the pack that meets the pack weight limit that you have set.
As you mentioned, belt pockets are important to you, so I guess that you can eliminate any backpacks that do not have them, or that do not have belt pockets in the size that you desire. E.g. You might want belt pockets that can easily hold a 5" phone.
You may also want side water bottle pockets, front and top opening access points, sleeping bag compartment, hydration bladder sleeve, etc.
So it looks like you have all the data that you will need, so what is your process of elimination, and how will you decide what backpack to purchase?
Thanks for sharing, and let us all know.
Dialup
5
Aug 3, 2018
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MsilverhammerThank you. I appreciate the compliments. People here have shown a lot of good ideas. I'll pull as much useful data as possible. I just researching this to avoid wasting an enormous amount of money (again). I pasted a few images to this post that are hopefully easier to read.
You are spot on with the belt pockets. I am not impressed with Cuban fiber, so I have been looking into xpac as a cost-efficient, more durable solution. The heaviest item on my backpack list is the Gregory Denali (8lbs). When I bought it, it was one of the best expecition class packs on the market. Today, people might look at me like I was carrying an anchor reguardless of how much it cost or what it is intended to do.
My base-weight (today's current total 😁) is shown below. Pounds Base Weight 8.38 2 L Water 4.40 4 days food at 2.0 lb 3000 cal/day 8.00 8 esbit Fuel Tablets 0.25 Normal (2 day food, 2l, tabs ) 17.03 Max: Gear, Food, 4l h2o and Fuel 26.43
If I choose the Z-packs Nero, I might exceed the capacity. If I walk 20-30 mile days, an overloaded frameless pack will hurt. I know I can go much lighter but walking with others will require me to carry crew gear.
Colors are not of critical importance to me. That being said, I like my backpacks conservative and nondescript.
My choice of the SWD Superior 40 was a compromise between UL and traditional frame packs. It's also made of Dyneema X and X-Pac material. The pack is frameless but also has a traditional belt to hold up to 25 lbs comfortably. The Superior 40 is only a few more dollars and ounces than a Z-packs Nero. I also like the fact that SWD does not include the external pockets in their volume totals. The outside pocket of the Superior 40 is 10L more (50L). Z-packs considers inside and out in their totals. The Nero is really 28l but they add all the external pockets. The Nero is effectively waterproof and the Superior 40 doesn't even try to be. Their thought is that we should be using a compactor bag or some waterproof alternative anyway.
That being said, I keep researching. A good price could push me in the right direction.
You are spot on with the belt pockets. I am not impressed with Cuban fiber, so I have been looking into xpac as a cost-efficient, more durable solution. The heaviest item on my backpack list is the Gregory Denali (8lbs). When I bought it, it was one of the best expecition class packs on the market. Today, people might look at me like I was carrying an anchor reguardless of how much it cost or what it is intended to do.
My base-weight (today's current total 😁) is shown below. Pounds Base Weight 8.38 2 L Water 4.40 4 days food at 2.0 lb 3000 cal/day 8.00 8 esbit Fuel Tablets 0.25 Normal (2 day food, 2l, tabs ) 17.03 Max: Gear, Food, 4l h2o and Fuel 26.43
If I choose the Z-packs Nero, I might exceed the capacity. If I walk 20-30 mile days, an overloaded frameless pack will hurt. I know I can go much lighter but walking with others will require me to carry crew gear.
Colors are not of critical importance to me. That being said, I like my backpacks conservative and nondescript.
My choice of the SWD Superior 40 was a compromise between UL and traditional frame packs. It's also made of Dyneema X and X-Pac material. The pack is frameless but also has a traditional belt to hold up to 25 lbs comfortably. The Superior 40 is only a few more dollars and ounces than a Z-packs Nero. I also like the fact that SWD does not include the external pockets in their volume totals. The outside pocket of the Superior 40 is 10L more (50L). Z-packs considers inside and out in their totals. The Nero is really 28l but they add all the external pockets. The Nero is effectively waterproof and the Superior 40 doesn't even try to be. Their thought is that we should be using a compactor bag or some waterproof alternative anyway.
That being said, I keep researching. A good price could push me in the right direction.
kim.suarez
661
Outdoors & Ultralight Collaborations
Feb 28, 2019
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DialupThis is amazing! Do you have a lot of experience using packs with X-Pac?
Msilverhammer
327
Feb 28, 2019
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kim.suarezI have seen them, but currently don't own a backpack made from X-Pac fabric.
I am considering the purchase of one however, but currently the Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60, and the Massdrop Granite Gear Crown X60 are at the top of my list.
https://www.gossamergear.com/collections/backpacks/products/mariposa-60-lightweight-backpack
https://www.massdrop.com/buy/massdrop-x-granite-gear-crown-x60 You might check out the following links for more information on durable lightweight backpacks. https://sectionhiker.com/7-most-durable-lightweight-backpacks-of-2018/
https://seekoutside.com/blog/xpac/
https://seekoutside.com/lightweight-backpacking-packs/ https://seekoutside.com/ultralight-backpacks/ https://www.zimmerbuilt.com/xpac-backpacks.html
https://www.massdrop.com/buy/massdrop-x-granite-gear-crown-x60 You might check out the following links for more information on durable lightweight backpacks. https://sectionhiker.com/7-most-durable-lightweight-backpacks-of-2018/
https://seekoutside.com/blog/xpac/
https://seekoutside.com/lightweight-backpacking-packs/ https://seekoutside.com/ultralight-backpacks/ https://www.zimmerbuilt.com/xpac-backpacks.html
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